Israel claimed it eliminated approximately 40 senior Iranian military leaders in airstrikes that began on Oct. 28, local time. The U.S. military also reported its first casualties, with three service members killed.
The Israel Defense Forces announced in a statement on Nov. 1 that it had "eliminated 40 defense leaders of the Iranian terror regime." The military said seven officials, including Iranian Armed Forces Chief of Staff Abdolrahim Mousavi, were killed in the initial strikes on multiple locations in Tehran. Subsequent attacks brought the total to 40, according to the statement.
Israel specifically cited Mousavi for "commanding the launch of hundreds of ballistic missiles at Israeli territory, killing and wounding civilians."
Iranian state news agency IRNA reported that Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Commander-in-Chief Mohammad Fakpour was also killed in the strikes. The IRGC lost its previous commander, Hossein Salami, in U.S. and Israeli airstrikes in June last year.
Mousavi's death was officially confirmed. He had been appointed to replace Mohammad Bagheri, who was killed in the June strikes on Iran. Iranian Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh and Supreme Leader's military advisor Ali Shamkhani were also killed in the attack.
IRNA reported the officials were attending a National Defense Committee meeting when struck. The agency indicated additional "martyrs" would be announced soon, suggesting more senior defense and security officials may have died.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the U.S. and Israel had precise intelligence on the meeting, timing the strikes for midday Saturday when officials had gathered.
U.S. Central Command, which oversees operations against Iran in the Middle East, posted on X that three U.S. service members were killed and five seriously wounded. CENTCOM stated that others sustained minor shrapnel injuries and concussions during "Operation Epic Fury" and are currently in the process of returning to duty.